Evaluating the hypolipidemic effect of garlic essential oil encapsulated in a novel double-layer delivery system.

The limited application of garlic essential oil (GEO) is attributed to its pungent taste, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Liposomes are nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible, and ß-cyclodextrin can inhibit undesirable odors and improve the stability and bioavailability. Thus a promising dual-layer GEO ß-cyclodextrin inclusion compound liposome (GEO-DCL) delivery system with both advantages was designed and prepared in this study. Experimental results indicated that the encapsulation efficiency of GEO-DCLs was 5% higher than that of GEO liposomes (GEO-CLs), reaching more than 88%. In vitro release experiment showed that the release rate of GEO in GEO-DCLs was 40% lower than that of GEO-CLs after incubation in gastric juice for 6-h, indicating that the stability of GEO-DCLs was better than GEO-CLs. Evaluation of the effects of GEO-DCLs on lowering blood lipid levels in hypercholesterolemia mice. GEO-DCLs could reduce the weight and fat deposition in hypercholesterolemia mice. Inhibiting the increase of TC, LDL-C, and decrease of HDL-C in mice. The degree of liver injury was decreased, the number of round lipid droplets in liver cytoplasm was reduced, and the growth of fat cells was inhibited. The lipid-lowering effects of GEO-DCLs were dose-dependent. GEO-DCL can improve the bioavailability of GEO and improve dyslipidemia. Based on GEO's efficacy in lowering blood lipids, this study developed a kind of GEO-DCL compound pomegranate juice beverage with good taste, miscibility and double effect of reducing blood lipids. This study lays a foundation for the application of GEO in the field of functional food.

Study on the Effect and Mechanism of Xuezhiping Capsule on Blood Lipid Levels of High Blood Lipid Model Golden Hamsters / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect and its possible mechanism of Xuezhiping capsule on blood lipid levels of high blood lipid model golden hamsters. METHODS:Golden hamsters were randomly divided into normal control group,model group, atorvastatin group (3 mg/kg),combination group (Xuezhiping capsule 1.3 g/kg+atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg),Xuezhiping capsule low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(Xuezhiping capsule 1.3,2.6,5.2 g/kg),10 in each group. Hamsters in normal control group received normal diet,the other groups were given high-fat diet to establish high blood lipid model. Then relevant drugs were intragastrically given 2 weeks later. Normal control group and model group were intragastrically given equal volume of distilled wa-ter,once a day,for 4 weeks. After last administration,blood lipid indexes(TG,TC,HDL-C,LDL-C,FFA),mRNA and protein expressions of lipid metabolism related genes (PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,SREBP-1c,ACC1) were detected. RESULTS:Com-pared with normal control group,serum contents of TC,TG,LDL-C,FFA in model group increased,HDL-C content decreased;PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX mRNA and protein expressions were weakened,SREBP-1c,ACC1 mRNA and protein expressions were enhanced(P<0.05). Compared with model group,above-mentioned indexes were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group,atorvastatin group and combination group (except for HDL-C in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group)(P<0.05);TC,TG,FFA contents,and PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,ACC1 mRNA,and CYP7A1,SREBP-1c,ACC1 protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule medium-dose group(P<0.05);TC,TG contents,and PPAR-α mRNA,and CYP7A1, SREBP-1c protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule low-dose group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Xuezhiping cap-sule has a promising effect of lowering blood lipid,the mechanism may be related to activating PPAR-α and inhibiting SREBP-lc signaling pathway.

Research progress on pharmacological activities of medical plants from Dendrobium Sw / 中草药

Dendrobii Herba is a valuable medicinal plant in China, and is widely used in the daily health care and clinical treatment. In recent years, its tissue culture, cultivation, quality identification, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, etc have been studied at home and aboard, which provided the theoretical foundation for the application of Dendrobii Herba. This paper reviews the related literatures on the pharmacological activities of Dendrobii Herba for anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and lowering blood glucose and blood pressure.